On this page
- Key facts
- Which terms will I meet at each stage of importing?
- What do IEC, HS code and customs broker mean?
- What do the BIS certification terms mean?
- What do ETA, delicensed band, Essential Requirements and star rating mean?
- What do LMPC registration and principal display panel mean?
- What do Bill of Entry, out of charge, demurrage and high sea sale mean?
- What do PIBO, EEE code, EPR certificate, PRO and environmental compensation mean?
- Which terms do importers mix up most often?
- What do the common abbreviations stand for?
- How do the terms fit together for one shipment?
- Where can I learn more or ask about a term?
- Frequently asked questions
- Sources
Key facts at a glance
- IEC
- 10 characters, same as PAN; Rs 500[1]
- CRS
- BIS Scheme-II registration, 66 categories[2]
- R-number
- Printed with the Standard Mark, Arial 6 minimum[3]
- ISI mark licence number
- Shown as CM/L-XXXXXXXXXX[4]
- AIR
- Nominated on Form IV by a foreign maker[5]
- BIS-recognised labs
- 444 listed, 30 Oct 2026[6]
- ETA
- Rs 10,000 per model, self-declaration[7]
- LMPC registration
- Rs 500, within 90 days of starting[8]
- Bill of Entry
- File before the day of arrival; up to 30 days early[9]
- PIBOs registered
- 62,175 as of 25 June 2026[10]
- E-waste EPR certificate
- Valid 2 years from end of year generated[11]
- Customs broker licence
- Valid unless revoked[12]
Checked 1 November 2026 against the regulator's own documents.
- What are Essential Requirements (ERs) under TEC's MTCTE scheme, and how do you meet one?
- What does out of charge (OOC) mean in Indian customs, and what stops it?
- What is a BEE star rating, how is it decided, and when does it change?
- What is a Bill of Entry, when must you file it, and why does its date matter?
- What is a BIS R-number, where does it go on a product, and how do you check it?
- What is a BIS-recognised laboratory, and why does it matter for BIS registration?
- What is a customs broker, and what does a broker do for an importer?
- What is a delicensed (licence-exempt) frequency band in India?
- What is a high sea sale, and how does Customs treat it when the goods land in India?
- What is a PIBO under India's plastic packaging EPR rules, and what does it have to do?
- What is a producer responsibility organisation (PRO) under India's EPR rules, and can it take your liability?
- What is a Quality Control Order (QCO) in India, and how does it affect importers?
- What is an Authorised Indian Representative (AIR) under BIS?
- What is an EEE code under India's E-Waste Rules?
- What is an EPR certificate, and how do importers use one to meet EPR targets?
- What is an HS code, and how does the ITC(HS) code affect an import into India?
- What is an Importer-Exporter Code (IEC), and how do you get and keep one?
- What is an Indian Standard (IS), and how does an IS number decide what your product is tested to?
- What is demurrage and how do compliance delays cause it?
- What is environmental compensation under India's EPR rules?
- What is Equipment Type Approval (ETA), and which wireless products need one?
- What is LMPC registration, and why does every importer of packaged goods need it?
- What is the BIS Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS)?
- What is the BIS Standard Mark, and how do the ISI and CRS marks differ?
- What is the ISI mark, and what does it mean for importers of toys, cookers, helmets and appliances?
- What is the principal display panel on a package, and what must it show?
Which terms will I meet at each stage of importing?
Importing runs in five stages, and each has its own vocabulary: getting set up, certifying the product, labelling the pack, clearing customs, and meeting waste obligations after sale. The sections below group all 26 terms in that order.
- Set-up: IEC, HS code, customs broker.
- Product certification: Indian Standard, QCO, CRS, ISI mark, Standard Mark, R-number, AIR, BIS-recognised laboratory, ETA, delicensed band, Essential Requirements, star rating.
- Packaging and labels: LMPC registration, principal display panel.
- At the port: Bill of Entry, out of charge, demurrage, high sea sale.
- After sale (EPR): PIBO, EEE code, EPR certificate, PRO, environmental compensation.
For the approvals themselves, see the approvals hub; for products, the product hub.
What do IEC, HS code and customs broker mean?
These are the three things you need before the first shipment: a code that lets you import, the classification of your goods, and the licensed agent who files your customs papers.
| Term | Plain meaning | Key rule | Where it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) | DGFT's code for any business that imports or exports, equal to its PAN | Rs 500, permanent unless suspended[13][14]; update every April to June[1] | IEC code guide, DGFT portal |
| HS code | The 8-digit ITC(HS) number that classifies goods on the Bill of Entry | Example: TWS earbuds 85183011[15] | Product guides, HS code finder |
| Customs broker | A firm licensed by Customs to file entries for importers | Licence valid unless revoked[12]; must verify client details[16] | Customs documents checklist |
What do the BIS certification terms mean?
BIS terms describe what standard a product meets, which scheme certifies it, and what mark and number prove it. Most confusion comes from mixing the scheme (CRS or ISI) with the mark it produces.
| Term | Plain meaning | Key rule |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Standard (IS) | BIS's technical standard, named by number and year | Electronics are moving to IS/IEC 62368-1:2023[17]; see all IS codes |
| Quality Control Order (QCO) | A government order that makes a BIS mark compulsory for listed goods | No import or sale without the mark[18]; see all QCOs |
| Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) | BIS Scheme-II: registration based on a lab report | Held by the factory, not the importer[19]; see BIS CRS |
| ISI mark | The Standard Mark used under a Scheme-I licence | Licence number shown as CM/L-XXXXXXXXXX[4]; see ISI mark |
| Standard Mark | Any BIS-authorised mark, CRS or ISI | BIS can order recall of non-conforming marked goods[18] |
| R-number | The CRS registration number printed with the mark | Stays the same after migrating to IS/IEC 62368-1[20]; see CRS labelling |
| Authorised Indian Representative (AIR) | The Indian resident a foreign maker nominates to answer to BIS | One foreign manufacturer per AIR, group firms excepted[21] |
| BIS-recognised laboratory | A lab BIS approves to test to specific standards | Recognition lasts 3 years[22]; see test labs |
What do ETA, delicensed band, Essential Requirements and star rating mean?
These four terms belong to the radio, telecom and energy approvals: WPC's ETA for wireless devices, TEC's MTCTE for telecom gear, and BEE's star label for appliances.
| Term | Plain meaning | Key rule |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment Type Approval (ETA) | WPC's approval for devices that use licence-exempt radio bands | Self-declaration on Saral Sanchar[23]; valid for the model's life[7]; see WPC ETA |
| Delicensed frequency band | Spectrum DoT has exempted from licensing | Examples: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 865-867 MHz[24] |
| Essential Requirements (ER) | TEC's test parameters for a type of telecom equipment | Cover EMI/EMC, safety, technical and security[25]; see TEC MTCTE |
| Star rating | The 1 to 5 star level on a BEE label | Set by a notification for each appliance[26]; see BEE star label |
What do LMPC registration and principal display panel mean?
LMPC registration is the importer's registration under the Legal Metrology packaging rules; the principal display panel is the part of the pack where the required declarations must appear. Both decide whether a retail pack is legal to sell.
LMPC registration is needed by anyone who imports commodities for sale[8], for a Rs 500 fee[8], and is valid until cancelled[27]. The principal display panel must carry every declaration the rules require[8], in Hindi or English[8], and for imports the importer's name and complete address[8]. Get it right with the LMPC label rules, the product label checklist and the label checker.
What do Bill of Entry, out of charge, demurrage and high sea sale mean?
These are customs terms. The Bill of Entry is your import declaration, out of charge is Customs releasing the goods, demurrage is the daily charge for cargo that stays too long, and a high sea sale is selling goods while they are still in transit.
| Term | Plain meaning | Key rule |
|---|---|---|
| Bill of Entry (B/E) | The declaration filed with Customs describing the goods, value and classification | File by the end of the day before arrival, up to 30 days early[9]; late filing costs Rs 5,000 a day at first[28] |
| Out of charge (OOC) | The customs order that releases goods after assessment and duty | Clearance order made after assessment and any examination[29] |
| Demurrage | A per-day charge when cargo stays past the free period | Avoid it by holding BIS, ETA and EPR papers before arrival; BIS targets 20 working days for CRS[5] |
| High sea sale (HSS) | Selling goods in transit, so the buyer clears them as importer | Allowed subject to the FTP[1]; B/E must show the HSS buyer, seller and commission[30] |
What do PIBO, EEE code, EPR certificate, PRO and environmental compensation mean?
These are the EPR terms that apply after your goods are sold: who is obliged, which products count, how targets are met, who can help, and what missing a target costs.
| Term | Plain meaning | Key rule |
|---|---|---|
| PIBO | Producer, importer or brand owner under the plastic EPR rules | Fee Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 by tonnage[31]; see plastic EPR |
| EEE code | The Schedule I code for each type of covered electronics | Phones ITEW15[11]; many items not named[11]; see e-waste EPR |
| EPR certificate | A tradeable credit for recycled waste, bought to meet targets | E-waste: only from registered recyclers[11]; battery certificates valid 7 years[32] |
| Producer responsibility organisation (PRO) | A firm producers pay to run their EPR work | E-waste producers may use one, but liability stays with them[33] |
| Environmental compensation (EC) | The charge for missing EPR targets or breaking the rules | Plastic shortfall Rs 2,900 to Rs 7,900 per tonne[34]; see EPR targets |
Which terms do importers mix up most often?
Five pairs cause most mistakes: CRS and the ISI mark, the R-number and the CM/L number, ETA and MTCTE, the Bill of Entry and out of charge, and the producer and the PRO.
- CRS vs ISI mark. CRS is BIS Scheme-II registration on a lab report[19]; the ISI mark is a Scheme-I licence with factory assessment[35]. See CRS vs ISI vs FMCS.
- R-number vs CM/L number. The R-number identifies a CRS registration[3]; CM/L-XXXXXXXXXX is an ISI licence number[4].
- ETA vs MTCTE. ETA is WPC's radio approval; MTCTE is TEC's telecom certificate for notified equipment[36]. A Wi-Fi router needs both, on our reading[37]. See WPC ETA vs MTCTE.
- Bill of Entry vs out of charge. You file the first; Customs issues the second.
- Producer vs PRO. The producer (you, as importer) carries the EPR obligation; a PRO only helps. Under the battery rules, a producer may authorise others but the obligation stays[38].
What do the common abbreviations stand for?
Indian compliance paperwork is full of abbreviations. These are the ones our guides use most.
| Abbreviation | Stands for | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| BIS | Bureau of Indian Standards | BIS CRS |
| CRS | Compulsory Registration Scheme | CRS |
| FMCS | Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme | FMCS |
| AIR | Authorised Indian Representative | AIR |
| QCO | Quality Control Order | QCOs |
| WPC | Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing, DoT | WPC ETA |
| ETA | Equipment Type Approval | ETA |
| TEC | Telecommunication Engineering Centre | TEC MTCTE |
| MTCTE | Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment | MTCTE products |
| BEE | Bureau of Energy Efficiency | BEE star label |
| CPCB | Central Pollution Control Board | CPCB EPR portal |
| EPR | Extended Producer Responsibility | EPR returns |
| LMPC | Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules | LMPC |
| IEC | Importer-Exporter Code | IEC code |
| DGFT | Directorate General of Foreign Trade | DGFT portal |
| B/E, OOC | Bill of Entry; out of charge | ICEGATE |
| PIBO | Producer, Importer, Brand Owner | PIBO |
| EC | Environmental compensation | EC |
How do the terms fit together for one shipment?
Follow one shipment of Bluetooth earbuds and you meet most of the glossary. Before ordering, the importer gets an IEC for Rs 500[13] and confirms the HS code 85183011 for TWS earbuds[15].
The Chinese factory, through its AIR, registers under CRS in the 'Wireless Headphone and Earphone' category[39], testing at a BIS-recognised lab, and prints the Standard Mark with the R-number. Because earbuds use Bluetooth, an ETA is filed for Rs 10,000[7]. The importer registers as a PIBO for plastic EPR and for battery EPR, since earbuds contain lithium batteries[40], and gets LMPC registration so the principal display panel can carry its name and address.
At the port, the customs broker files the Bill of Entry, Customs assesses it and issues out of charge, and fast paperwork avoids demurrage. After sale, the importer buys EPR certificates to meet its battery target. The full story is in the Bluetooth earphones guide and the first electronics import checklist.
Where can I learn more or ask about a term?
Each glossary entry links to the full guide for its approval or process. For a question about your own product, use the approval checker or ask for a free compliance check. The first-time importers guide and documents required for import explain the terms in the order you meet them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between CRS and the ISI mark?
What is an R-number?
Who can be an Authorised Indian Representative?
Is an IEC the same as a PAN?
What is a PIBO?
A producer, importer or brand owner obliged under plastic EPR. CPCB counted 62,175 registered PIBOs in June 2026, of which 52,935 were importers[10].
What is an EEE code?
The code Schedule I of the E-Waste Rules gives each covered product, such as ITEW15 for mobile phones[11]. Many items, including earphones and chargers, are not named[11].
When must a Bill of Entry be filed?
Is a delicensed band free to use without approval?
What is environmental compensation?
The charge CPCB or a state board levies for missed EPR targets or rule breaches. For plastic it ranges from Rs 2,900 to Rs 7,900 per tonne of shortfall[34].
Sources 40 documents, 40 official
Each number in the text links to the document below. Labels show the type of source; see our editorial policy.
- Official portal Foreign Trade Policy 2023, Chapter 2: General Provisions Regarding Imports and Exports (revised, v1.2.2)
- Official portal BIS - Products under Compulsory Certification, Scheme-II (Registration Scheme/CRS), last updated 26 Oct 2026 · 26 October 2026
- Gazette BIS Registration Dept circular 06.09.2019 on marking + Scheme-II para 6 and Annexures I-III (Gazette extract) + e-labelling circular 13.09.2017 · 4 June 2018
- Official portal BIS - FMCS: BIS Standard Mark · 21 November 2025
- Official circular Guidelines for Grant of Licence (GoL) under Scheme-II of Schedule-II, BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations 2018, Ref RG:01 · 20 August 2019
- Official portal Group-1 List of BIS Recognised Laboratories (30-10-2026) · 30 October 2026
- Official portal Equipment Type Approval (ETA) - DoT eServices Portal (last updated 28-05-2025) · 28 May 2025
- Official portal The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 (G.S.R. 202(E), 7 March 2011) - copy hosted by Directorate of Legal Metrology, West Bengal · 7 March 2011
- Official circular JNCH Public Notice No. 29/2021 (29.03.2021): Clarifications on the legislative changes in Section 46 of Customs Act, 1962, citing CBIC Circular 08/2021-Customs · 29 March 2021
- Court order CPCB compliance report to NGT in O.A. 993/2024 with O.A. 926/2024 (dated 06.07.2026) · 6 July 2026
- Gazette E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 - G.S.R. 801(E), Gazette of India (CPCB copy) · 2 November 2022
- Official circular Chennai Customs Public Notice (03.08.2021): Amendment in CBLR, 2018 vide Notification No. 62/2021-Customs (N.T.) · 3 August 2021
- Official portal Appendix 2K: Scale of Application Fee (DGFT, updated)
- Official portal Handbook of Procedures 2023, Chapter 2 (DGFT file HBP_07_2026_Chapter_02)
- Official portal DGFT ITC(HS) code lookup (Export-Import Policy & Statistics)
- Court order CESTAT Mumbai, Krishna V Salgaonkar v. Pr. Commissioner of Customs, Final Order No. 85479/2025 · 24 March 2025
- Gazette MeitY S.O. 4997(E) - Migration to IS/IEC 62368 : Part 1 : 2023 · 29 October 2025
- Gazette The Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 (Act No. 11 of 2016) · 21 March 2016
- Official portal About CRS - crsbis.in
- Official circular BIS FAQs on Migration to IS/IEC 62368-1:2023 (22 Jul 2026) · 22 July 2026
- Official portal Nomination of AIR - BIS FMCS · 5 February 2026
- Official circular BIS Laboratory Recognition Scheme, 2020 (DOC: BIS/LRS/2020) · 23 June 2020
- Official circular DoT WPC OM No. R-11017/01/2018-PP(part-1) dated 09.09.2024 - Issuance of ETA for License-Exempt Wireless Equipment Devices · 9 September 2024
- Official portal DoT: Regulations (list of licence-exemption and delicensing notifications)
- Official circular MTCTE Procedure v3.0 (TEC 93009:2024), with amendments of 19.09.2024 and 01.01.2025 · 19 September 2024
- Gazette Bureau of Energy Efficiency (Appliance Labeling and Compliance) Regulations, 2026 - Notification No. 5506/BEE/S&L/AL/2025-26 dated 26 Dec 2025, Gazette of India Extraordinary Part III Sec 4 · 26 December 2025
- Gazette G.S.R. 418(E), 29 May 2026 - Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Third Amendment Rules, 2026 (Gazette of India, Extraordinary) · 29 May 2026
- Official circular JNCH Public Notice No. 85/2018 (23.05.2018) on the Bill of Entry (Electronic Integrated Declaration and Paperless Processing) Regulations, 2018 (Notification 36/2018-Customs (N.T.)) · 23 May 2018
- Official circular JNCH Public Notice No. 85/2018 (23.05.2018) · 23 May 2018
- Official circular JNCH Public Notice No. 58/2017: Discontinuation of High Seas Sale registration procedure · 2 May 2017
- Official portal CPCB SOP for Registration of Producer, Importer & Brand Owners through Plastic EPR Portal (15 Mar 2022) · 15 March 2022
- Gazette Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 - S.O. 3984(E), Gazette of India · 22 August 2022
- Gazette E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 (G.S.R. 801(E)) · 2 November 2022
- Official circular CPCB Revised Guidelines for Assessment of Environment Compensation for Violation of PWM Rules, 2016 (August 2024)
- Official portal BIS - Product Certification FAQ, Q1 and Q5
- Gazette G.S.R. 315(E), 16 May 2025 - Telecommunications (Framework to Notify Standards, Conformity Assessment and Certification) Rules, 2025 (Gazette copy on DoT eServices) · 16 May 2025
- Official portal List of Telecom products notified under MTCTE along with their effective mandatory certification date (DoT/TEC)
- Gazette Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 (S.O. 3984(E)) · 22 August 2022
- Official portal BIS CRS portal - Standard Number(s) list (product category vs IS number)
- Gazette Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 (S.O. 3984(E)) · 22 August 2022